Polson plan goes before public

Published: June 26, 2010 12:00 PM Morning Star:

The proposed plans for the redevelopment of Polson Park were put on display at the Vernon Recreation Complex on Thursday night.“We want to respect this park as the jewel of the city,” said Catherine Berris, the landscape architect who drafted the two proposals for possible upgrades to the park. Berris, along with staff from the City of Vernon and North Okanagan Regional District, were on hand on Thursday to answer questions one-on-one and gain some feedback about the two possible options. Option A is the most similar to what Polson Park looks like today. It includes a new pavilion and outdoor fitness area, improvements to the water park, the banks along the creek and the parking areas, as well as many new pedestrian paths.“Option B is a more ambitious undertaking,” said Berris. In addition to the improvements proposed in Option A, Option B would see a basketball court, a bicycle skills park, an off-leash dog area, and a large open space with loop paths to replace the track and field oval.

A few concerns were raised, most notably the problems that may arise if the internal road was closed to all motor vehicles, with the exception of emergency vehicles. “The safety factor is going to be reduced,” said Frank Anderson, member of the Vernon Lawn Bowling Club located at Polson Park. Reducing vehicle access could reduce foot traffic. And the fewer people in the park, the higher risk of illegal activity said Anderson. The Vernon Lawn Bowling Club has a vested interest in the state of the park, and has had several issues with vandalism to their clubhouse over the years. Only Option B will result in closing the road to motor vehicles, but Berris believes this option is preferable because it is a safety concern to have pedestrians and vehicles sharing so much of the park.

A decision to restrict vehicle access may also be affecting mobility throughout the park. Many in attendance on Thursday were worried that people of limited mobility like seniors or mothers with several children won’t be able to get to certain areas of the park without their vehicles. “I hope they don’t take that road out, they’ll ruin the park if they do,” said Art Lange. The proposed options are not set in stone, and with the exception of the new pavilion and the outdoor fitness area that have already been approved, everything is open for debate. Input from the community is encouraged, and a few venues have been set up to do so. Plans with comment cards can be found at the Vernon Arts Centre, the Vernon Public Library, and online at www.rdno.ca. A complete proposal to be put before NORD and the City of Vernon is expected to be complete by the end of July.